Saturday July 11, 2015

Sunday July 12, 2015

Over 100 pounds of bear meat goes into the making of the stew.

Local Hotels

GuestHouse Inn And Suites Elma is connected to the convention center and attractions in the region include Straddleline ORV Park.

Hotel Features

Microtel Inn And Suites Elma features barbecue grills, laundry facilities, and a picnic area. This Elma property has 2350 square feet of event space consisting of banquet facilities, conference/meeting rooms, and small meeting rooms. Complimentary wireless and wired high-speed Internet access is available in public areas. A complimentary breakfast is served each morning. Guest parking is complimentary. Additional property amenities include secure parking. The property has designated areas for smoking.

Local Hotels

Enjoy your stay in any of our Standard Deluxe, Oversized Deluxe Spa, Two Room Spa or Presidential Suites.
Regular Rates and Players Club Rates are listed. Discounts available for Players Club Members, AAA, AARP, Tribal, and Military. Room occupant must show respective identification upon check-in.

Summer Special - Two Day Getaway

Getaway today and stay two nights for the price of one! For only $129 you can stay in one of our luxurious rooms for two nights Sundays through Thursdays. Reserve your package today! Not valid with other offers. Must be a Player's Club member to participate.
Call toll free 1-800-667-7711 for this exclusive package.
Restrictions may apply.

Local History

The History of the Bear Festival

The McCleary Bear Festival was dreamed up in 1958 by Norman Porter, then editor of the McCleary Stimulator, the home town newspaper. It wasn't that he disliked bears, but he and other residents of this area knew that bears liked to eat the soft cambium layer of the inner bark of young evergreen trees. They especially crave this delicacy when they emerge from hibernation, and to satisfy their hunger they often strip a tree of all its bark, causing it to die. It started with a remark by a friend of Porter's by the name of Roy Craft, then editor of the Skamania County Pioneer in Stevenson, Washington, who claimed that Skamania bears, if properly cooked, were the world's most delicious. Porter countered with the claim that Grays Harbor's bears were the tops. The two agreed to meet head-on in a bear-tasting contest in McCleary. Civic minded McClearians got interested, formed committees and decided to stage something more than just a bear-eating contest. Working with Porter, they created the First Annual Second Growth and Bear Festival. It not only helped to rid the forests of unwanted surplus bears, but also supplied the Festival with bear for the barbecue.

In 1966, fifteen bears went into the communal pot. Now selected portions of inspected bear meat is combined with beef to provide the distinctive flavor associated with McCleary Bear Stew. McCleary is a slumbering little lumber town 30 minutes west of the Capitol City, Olympia, and depends greatly upon the forests surrounding it in Grays Harbor County for survival. The Simpson Timber Company always replants harvested land for future use of the timber industry, as do all other timber companies in the Northwest. It is these young trees that bears find so tasty and damage readily each spring.
By the ninth annual Bear Festival, 4,000 visitors were gathered in McCleary. The cooking crew by then had grown to several local sportsmen who started two days ahead of time to make sure the bear stew was ready on time. Now we host upwards of 10,000 people from all over the United States and Canada who have heard one way or another about the big three-day celebration on the second full weekend of July each year.

100+ pounds of meat go into the stew with a small portion of that being beef for flavoring. There are also hundreds of pounds of potatoes, carrots, onions and a large kettle of "special" spicy sauce cooked just right with seasonings that are added just before serving. The stew is cooked in enormous iron kettles on stoves in the City Park kitchen. This is one case where too many chefs don't spoil the stew, for it takes about 40 people to handle the cooking chores; taking 'round the clock shifts watching and stirring and adding the right ingredients at the right time to make the stew just right. The menu also calls for a ton of watermelon, 3,000 rolls, and baked beans by the kettles full. It is served immediately following the Grand Parade which always starts at 12:00 noon on Saturday.

Although the Bear Stew is the big attraction to the festival, there is also a Kiddies Parade, Grand Parade, Royal Court Ceremony, Bands, Dances, Softball Tournament, and many other events in all three days.

HISTORY OF THE BEAR FESTIVAL

MAP OF McCLEARY

2015 Sponsor List

Papa Bear Sponsors

Mama Bear Sponsors

2015 Papa Bear Sponsors

Meet the 2015 Royal Court

Princess Kennedy

My name is Kennedy Tondre, and I am 13 years young. I go to McCleary School, and I am currently in the 8th grade. I have been lived in McCleary my whole life. I am one of five children, I have two sisters and two brothers. I am part of the "We Challenge" club, and the national junior honor society at my school. I enjoy playing sports, I play basketball and volleyball. I have been a part of WE-day for the last 2 years, and I help out at the school whenever there is a chance. I also volunteer at the library for an hour every other Wednesday. I am caring, helpful, kind, and a friendly person. I also enjoy helping out with the little kids at my school when I can.

Sponsored By:

Prince Zack

My name is Zack Persell,
I am currently enrolled in the McCleary middle school. I plan on going to capital for my high school years. I love to play sports my most favorite is track, I am the peer mediation president at my school I am Vice President of our school band. My family supports me in what I do. I have a twin brother who is really cool, I also have five brothers and two sisters. I love to hang out with friends and family. I'm excited to see what's in store while being involved with the McCleary Bear Festival.

Sponsored By:

Princess Samantha

Hi, my name is Samantha Messing
and I am a Bear Festival princess. I've been going to the McCleary School since pre-school. I am 14 years old and currently in the 8th grade. I consider myself to be an active member of the community, as I am involved in many different sports. I am in the "We Challenge", honor society, and I am the ASB secretary. I play soccer, basketball, and fast-pitch. I enjoy watching the Seahawks ad hanging out with family and friends. Someday I hope to go to Washington State University and get a degree in something where I can help other people's lives.